Shelf support



C. O. LARSON Jan. 13, 1970 SHELF SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 20. 1967 INVENTOR. CHARLES 0. LARSON Jam '13, 1970 o. LARSON ,489, 9

V -SHELF SUPPORT Filed Nov. 20, 1967 I I Y S'Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES 0. LARSON f BY;Z7',,

3 Jan. 13; 1970 ,1.' AR N 3,489,290

v f SHELF sU PORT H Filed um 20.1967 k SShegts-Sheet s INVENTOR. CHARLES 0. LARSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,489,290 SHELF SUPPORT Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill., assignor to Chas. O.

Larson C0., Sterling, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,326 Int. Cl. A47f /00 US. Cl. 211148 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shelf support for supporting a shelf on an upstanding pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns. The shelf support comprises a base member having a planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated pegboard. Mounting means are formed integral with the base member and extend outwardly therefrom for mounting the base member on the asso- This invention relates to shelf supports adapted for use with pegboard displays, and more particularly to a shelf support capable of supporting one edge of a shelf on an upstanding pegboard, display in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the display, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboard upon which the shelf support is mounted.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a shelf support which includes a base member, mounting means for mounting the base member on a pegboard, and a support bracket rotatably carried on the base member for rotational movement relative thereto about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base member, the support bracket serving to support one edge of a shelf at a desired inclined position relative to the pegboard, whereby the support bracket is particularly useful in supporting a shelf upon a pegboard display having a pair of upstanding parallel pegboards.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shelf support of the character noted, which further includes stop means removably carried by the support bracket, the stop means being effective to prevent a shelf positioned upon the support bracket from sliding outwardly and off the support bracket when the shelf is downwardly inclined.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shelf support of the character noted, wherein the aforementioned stop means includes a plate adapted to overlie the bearing surface of the support bracket and having a flange which extends upwardly from one end of the plate so as to engage the outer edge of the shelf, thereby to prevent outward movement of the shelf over the support bracket when the shelf is in an inclined position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide, for use together with the shelf support of the character noted, a removable article retaining member adapted to engage articles disposed upon an inclined shelf, thereby to prevent movement of the articles off of the shelf.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelf support of the character noted, wherein the support bracket includes a planar bearing surface adapted to sup- 3,489,290 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 port one edge of a shelf disposed thereon, the bearing surface further including downwardly extending rigidifying side flanges integral therewith and an end flange integral therewith an extending in a direction opposite to the side flanges; pivot means being provided for rotatably connecting the end flange to the base member whereby the support bracket is capable of rotational movement relative to the base member about an axis disposed normal to the base member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf support of the character noted, wherein the support bracket is provided with edge flanges disposed parallel to the base member, whereby the rear surfaces of the edge flanges are adapted to bear against the face of the base member so as to distribute the forces bearing upon the base member when a shelf is disposed upon the bearing surface. v

It is still another object of the invention to provide a shelf support of the character noted, which further includes means for rigidly securing a shelf to the support bracket whereby the shelf may be supported in cantilever fashion on the associated pegboard.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shelf support of the character noted, wherein the support bracket may be inexpensively fabricated from a unitary piece of sheet metal or the like, but yet is strong enough to support the shelf on the associated pegboard without distorting and without damaging the associated pegboard in the areas thereof adjacent to which the shelf support is attached.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the shelf support, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The" invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pegboard display having a plurality of shelf supports embodying the present invention mounted thereon, and illustrating a pair of shelves supported thereupon in two angular positions with respect to the display;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1, illustrating the shelf supports supporting shelves thereupon in two different positions and wherein the lower shelf support of the lower pair of supports is provided with the stop means and the article retaining member as contemplated by the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary partial front view of the shelf supports positioned to support a shelf thereupon in a horizontal plane;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a unitary sheet metal member prior to fabrication thereof into the support bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the base member forming part of the shelf support of the present invention:

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stop means usable with the shelf support of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the shelf support of the present invention wherein a shelf is rigidly secured to the support bracket thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shelf support of the present invention, illustrating the position of the support bracket when disposed for supporting a shelf in a horizontal plane; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the shelf support of FIG. 8, with the support bracket positioned for supporting a shelf in an inclined position and the stop means illustrated in FIG. 6- positioned thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly.

to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a display designated generally as 10, which includes a pair of spaced apart generally rectangular upstanding side pegboards 11, and a rear pegboard 12. Each of the pegboards 11 and 12 have front and rear surfaces 13 and 14 respectively. The pegboards 11 and 12 are mounted by way of any suitable fastening means (not shown) to the upstanding supports provided by the legs 15, the legs 15 being respectively disposed in bases 16 whereby the display is supported in an upright osition with the side pegboards 11 disposed parallel to one another. Each pegboard has a plurality of holes 19 therethrough to receive supporting prongs of various types of display hooks for attachment to the pegboards 11 and 12. Also as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of shelf supports 20 is mounted on the opposing faces of the side pegboards 11, with two pair of the shelf supports 20 respectively supporting the opposite edges of a first shelf 21 in a horizontal position, and two pair of shelf supports respectively supporting the opposite edges of a second shelf 22 which is disposed at an inclined position with respect to the display 10.

Each of the shelf supports 20 is identical, and as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 8, each of the shelf supports 20 comprises a generally rectangular base member 30 having a rear surface 31 adapted to bear against the face 13 of the respective pegboard 11. A plurality of mounting prongs 32 is integrally formed with one edge 33 of the base member 30, which prongs extend outwardly there from. Each of the mounting prongs 32 comprises a relatively straight first leg element 34 having one end formed integrally with the edge 33 of the base member 30 and extending at right angles to the plane of the base member. Each of the leg elements 34 is of sufficient length to extend through the openings 19 in the pegboards 11, and thus the length of each of the first leg elements 34 is determined by the thickness of the pegboard with which the shelf support 20 is to be used. Normally, the thickness of the pegboard will be at least one-quarter inch and the thickness of the material from which the shelf support 20 is formed will be less than the thickness of the pegboard with which it is to be used.

A second leg element 35 is carried by the outer end of the first leg element 34 and is disposed normal thereto, whereby the second leg element 35 extends in the opposite direction to the base member 30. The second leg element 35 comprises a front surface 36 that is substantially parallel'to the plane of the base member 30 and offset with respect to the rear surface 31 of the base member 30 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the pegboard 11. As best seen in FIG. 3, the upstanding second leg element 35 extends upwardly above the opening 19 a suflicient distance so that the flat surface 36 thereof may bear against the rear surface 14 of the pegboard 11 after :he mounting prongs 32 have been inserted through the :ooperative openings 19.

Also as shown in the drawings, the base member 30 preferably includes a second plurality of vertically spaced mounting members integrally formed as by punching from the base member 30. Each of the second mounting members comprises a single leg element 37 which extends outwardly from the base 30 in the same direction as the first leg element 34 of the prongs 32. The leg elements 37 are disposed substantially normal to the base member 30 and each has a length equal to the thickness of the pegboard 11, whereby each leg element 37 is insertible through the openings 19 in the pegboard 11. The leg elements 37 provide additional support for the base 30 on the pegboard 11, thereby to distribute the forces applied to the pegboard 11 by the shelf support 20 over a greater area of the pegboard. As best seen in FIG. 5, the base member 30 is further provided with an opening 39 therethrough, for reasons he ea ter p ined.

It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the spaces between each of the adjacent mounting prongs 32 is equal to the spacing between two adjacent holes 19 in the pegboard 11. It will be also understood that the mounting prongs 32 and the mounting members 37 are vertically spaced on the base member 30 such that when the base member 30 is mounted on the pegboard 11, each of the mounting prongs 32 and the mounting members 37 will be received by vertically spaced openings 19 on the pegboard.

. The shelf support 20 further comprises a support bracket designated generally as 40, rotatably carried by the base member 30 and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction generally opposite to the mounting members 32. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, the major portion of the support bracket 40 is preferably generally U-shaped in cross section normal to the longitudinal axis thereof and has a generally planar bearing surface 41 and generally planar rigidifying side flanges 42 formed integral therewith and disposed normal thereto.

The bearing surface 41 is further provided with an end flange 43 which is formed integral with the inner end thereof and is disposed normal thereto and extends in a direction opposite to the side flanges 42. As best seen in FIG. 4, the end flange 43 has an opening 44 therethrough of substantially the same diameter as the opening 39 in the base member 30. The support bracket 40 is rotatably connected to the base member 30 by passing a rivet 45 through the opening 44 in the end flange 43 of the support bracket 40 and the opening 39 in the base member 30; the rivet 45 being tight enough to prevent excessively free rotation of the support bracket. When so fastened, the support bracket 40 is mounted for rotation relative to the base member 30 about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base member. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the bearing surface 41 is always disposed in a plane normal to the base member 30' regardless of the extent of angular rotation of the support bracket 40.

In-the preferred embodiment of the shelf support 20, each of the side flanges 42 includes an inwardly turned edgeflange 46 formed integral with the inner end thereof and disposed in substantially the same plane as the end flange 43, whereby the rear surface of the edge flanges 46 are adapted to bear against the face of the base member 30 so as to distribute the forces upon the base member 30 when an associated shelf, such as 21 or 22, is disposed upon the bearing surface 41.

Asseen in FIG. 4, the support bracket 40 may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal or the like, punched to provide the desired pattern and then folded along the dashed lines to provide the desired side flanges 42, end flange 43 and edge flanges 46. Also as shown in the drawings, each of the side flanges 42 is provided with agenerally rectangular slot 47 disposed substantially adjacent to the planar bearing surface 41 and extending in a direction generally parallel thereto, the slots 47 being provided for reasons hereinafter explained. In order to lighten the support bracket, suitable openings such as 48 may be punched in the side flanges 42. The bearing surface 41 is also provided with a plurality of aligned openings'49 which are adapted to receive fastening means such as-thescrews 25 therethrough, whereby a shelf such as 26 may be supported in cantilever fashion upon a single pegboard by passing the screws 25 through the openings 49 andinto the bottom surface of the shelf 26.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, four of the shelf supports 20 areused to support the opposite edges of a shelf in either the horizontal position, as shown by the shelf 21, or, by appropriately spacing the shelf supports and rotating the support brackets so that the bearing surfaces 41 thereof lie in a common plane, the shelf may be disposed in any one of a number of angular positions with respect to the pegboards 11, in each of which positions the shelf will be disposed normal to the plane of the pegboards, as shown by the shelf 22.

When, the shelf supports 20 are used to support a shelf in an inclined position, it is necessary to provide stop means for use in conjunction therewith so as to prevent the inclined shelf from sliding off of the bearing surfaces 41 of the cooperating shelf supports.

A preferred form of stop means, designated generally as 50, is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6 and 9, and comprises an elongated plate 51 which is coextensive in width to the solts 47 provided in the side flanges 42 f the support bracket 40. One end of the plate 51 is turned upwardly to provide an upstanding end flange 52. The opposite end of the plate 51 is provided with a generally U-shaped return comprising a bight portion 53 and a return flange 54. The bight portion 53 is substantially equal to the distance between the slots 47 and the bearing surface 41 of the support bracket 40, whereby the slots 47 are adapted to receive the return portion 54 with the plate 51 overlying the bearing surface 41. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 9, the stop means is positioned upon the sup-port bracket 40 by inserting the return portion 54 thereof into the uppermost one of the slots 47 in the support bracket 40. In this position, the major portion of the plate 51 overlies the bearing surface 41, while the upstanding end flange 52 is disposed generally normal to and out of the plane of the bearing surface 41. When the stop means 50 is so positioned, the upstanding end flange 52 is adapted to engage the outer edge of the shelf 22 so as to prevent outward movement of the shelf relative to the shelf supports 20. When the shelf supports are used to position a shelf in a horizontal plane, the stop means 50 is easily removed from the shelf support 20 by sliding the return flange 54 out of the respective slot 47.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the shelf 22 is inclined, articles such as 60 may tend to slide therefrom. In this case, an article retaining member '65, which may be of the same material as the shelf 72 and coextensive in width thereto, is positioned on the bearing surface 41 between the outer edge of the shelf 22 and the upstanding end flanges 52 of the stop means, whereby the article retaining member 65 extends above the plane of the shelf so as to engage articles positioned on the inclined shelf and prevent them from sliding therefrom.

The shelf supports 20 may be easily removed from the pegboard 11 and relocated in any desirable position so as to position the shelf in a selected angular position on the pegboards 11 by first inserting the second leg elements 136 of the mounting prongs 32 into a corresponding number of openings 19 at the desired location, and then pivoting the base member 30 downwardly to insert the 'leg elements 37 into the corresponding number of openings, whereby the rear surface 31 of the base member 30 is brought into contact with the face .13 of the pegboard.

The desired angular position is then established by rotating the support bracket 40 until the bearing surface 41 lies in the desired plane. A second shelf support 20 is then placed on the pegboard 11, the position thereof being determined by the depth of the shelf to be supported. The support bracket 40 of the second shelf support 20 is then rotated so that the bearing surface 41 thereof lies in the same plane as the bearing surface of the first shelf support. Upon positioning a pair of shelf supports 20 on each of the opposing faces of the upstanding pegboards 11 so that the bearing surfaces 41 of all of the shelf supports 20 lie in the same plane, and upon inserting the stop means 50 thereon in the manner heretofore described, a shelf such as 22 may be positioned thereupon in any desired angular position with respect to the parallel pegboards 11.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf support for supporting a shelf on an upstanding pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said shelf support comprising a base member having a substantially planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated pegboard, mounting means integral with said base member and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base member on the associated pegboard, a support bracket carried by said base member and comprising a generally planar bearing surface disposed in a plane normal to said base member and adapted to support one edge of an associated shelf thereon, a pair of rigidifying side flanges formed integral with said bearing surface and disposed normal thereto and an end flange integral with said bearing surface and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said side flanges, and means rotatably connecting said end flange to said base member, whereby said support bracket is rotatably carried by said base member for rotational movement relative thereto about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said base member so that said bearing surface is adapted to support one edge of an associated shelf in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the associated pegboard, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboard.

2. The shelf support set forth in claim 1, and further comprising stop means carried by said support bracket and extending out of said planar bearing surface thereof for engaging the free edge of the associated shelf supported by said support bracket so as to prevent outward movement of the shelf relative thereto.

3. The shelf support set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said side flanges has a slot therein disposed substantial- 1y adjacent to said bearing surface and extending in a direction parallel thereto, and said stop means comprises a generally planar plate adapted to overlie said planar bearing surface, one end of said plate having an end flange integral therewith and disposed substantially normal thereto, the opposite end of said plate being provided With a return flange disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said plate and coextensive in width to said slots, whereby said slots are adapted to receive said return flange so as to position said stop means on said support bracket with said plate overlying said bearing surface and said end flange extending upwardly from said plate for engaging the free edge of the associated shelf supported by said support bracket.

4. The shelf support set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said side flanges includes an edge flange integral with the inner end thereof and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said base member, whereby the rear surfaces of said edge flanges are adapted to bear against the face of said base member so as to distribute the force upon said base member when the associated shelf is disposed upon said bearing surface.

5. The shelf support set forth in claim 1, wherein said bearing surface has a plurality of openings therethrough for receiving a corresponding number of fastening means, whereby the associated shelf is adapted to be rigidly supported upon said bearing surface by the passage of said fastening means through said openings and into the associated shelf.

6. The shelf support set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises at least one mounting prong having a first leg element integral with one edge of said base member and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to said support bracket, said first leg element being disposed substantially normal to said base member and having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the associated pegboard, and a second leg element carried by the outer end of said first leg element and disposed normal thereto and extending in the opposite direction to said base member, whereby said prong is insertible through an opening in said pegboard with said first leg element thereof being adapted normally to rest within the opening in the associated pegboard so as to support said base member thereon with said second leg element thereof bearing against the rear surface of the associated pegboard so as to prevent withdrawal of said base member from the opening while said base member is disposed on the pegboard.

7. The shelf support set forth in claim 6, wherein said mounting means further comprises a third leg element extending outwardly from said base member and disposed substantially normal thereto and having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the associated pegboard, whereby said third leg element is insertible through an opening in the associated pegboard when said base member is disposed thereon, thereby to provide additional support for said base member on the associated pegboard.

8. A pegboard display comprising a pair of generally upstanding parallel pegboards each having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, a first pair of shelf supports removably carried by one of said pegboards and extending toward the other of said pegboards, a second pair of shelf supports removably carried by said other pegboard and extending toward said one pegboard, each of said shelf supports comprising a base, member having a substantially planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the respective pegboard, mounting means integral with said base member and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base member on the respective member, a support bracket carried by said base member and comprising a generally planar bearing surface disposed in a plane normal to said base member and adapted to support one edge of an associated shelf thereon, a pair of rigidifying side flanges formed integral with said bearing surface and disposed normal thereto, and an end flange integral with said bearing surface and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said side flanges and means rotatably connecting said end flange to said base member, whereby said bearing surfaces of said first and second pairs of shelf supports are adapted cooperably to support the opposite ends of an associated shelf in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to said pair of pegboards, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboards.

9. A shelf support for supporting a shelf on an upstanding pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said shelf support comprising a base member having a substantially planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated pegboard, mounting means integral with said base member and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base member on the associated pegboard, a support bracket rotatably carried by said base member for rotational movement relative thereto about an axis perpendicular to th plane of said base member, said support bracket having a bearing surface disposed in a plane normal to said base member for supporting one edge of an associated shelf thereon in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the associated pegboard, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboard, and stop means removably carried by said support bracket and extending out of said bearing surface thereof for engaging a free edge of the associated shelf supported by said support bracket so as to prevent outward movement of the shelf relative thereto.

10. The shelf support set forth in claim 9 wherein said bearing surface is generally planar and has a plurality of openings therethrough for receiving a corresponding number of fastening means, whereby the associated shelf is adapted to be rigidly supported upon said bearing surface by the passage of said fastening means through said op ning and into the associated shelf.

11. A shelf support for supportinga shelf on an upstanding pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said shelf support comprising a base member having a substantially planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated pegboard, mounting means integral with said base member and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base member on the associated pegboard, a support bracket rotatably carried by said base member for rotational movement relative thereto about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said base member, said support bracket having a bearing surface disposed in a plane normal to said base member for supporting one edge of an associated shelf thereon in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the associated pegboard, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboard, stop means carried by said support bracket and extending out of said bearing surface thereof for engaging a free edge of the associated shelf supported by said support bracket so as to prevent relative movement of the shelf relative thereto, and an article retaining member carried by said support bracket between said stop means and the free edge of the associated shelf supported by said support bracket, said article retaining member extending upwardly from said bearing surface and above the upper surface of the associated shelf and extending the full width of the shelf, whereby said article retaining member is adapted to engage articles disposed upon the shelf so as to prevent outward movement of the articles from the shelf when the shelf is disposed in an inclined position.

12. A shelf support for supporting a shelf on an upstanding pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said shelf support comprising a base member having a substantially planar rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated pegboard, mounting means integral with said base member and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base member on the associated pegboard, and a support bracket having a bearing surface disposed in a plane normal to said base member for supporting one edge of an associated shelf thereon in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the associated pegboard, in each of which positions the shelf is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the pegboard, and having a pair of rigidifying side flanges formed integral with said bearing surface and disposed normal thereto and having an end flange integral with said bearing surface and extending therefrom in a direction opposite from said side flanges, and means rotatably connecting said end flange to said base member for rotatably connecting said bearing surface to said base member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said base member.

13. The shelf support set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said side flanges includes an edge flange integral with the inner end thereof and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said base member, whereby the rear surfaces of said edge flanges are adapted to bear against the face of said base member so as to distribute the forces upon said base member when the associated shelf is disposed upon said bearing surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,198 6/1926 McComb 211 3,250,235 5/ 1966 McDonnell 21 1-150 X 3,306,466 2/1967 Liston 211148 3,326,149 6/1967 Mitchell 211-148 X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner 

